Des Moines Area Community College.

Medical Laboratory Technician

Recommended High School Level Background Courses

  • *Basic Math
  • *Chemistry (program prerequisite)
  • *Biology (program prerequisite)
  • *Algebra (program prerequisite)
   

* Courses available in the Academic Achievement Center or High School Completion Center

Basic Skills in the Program and on the Job

Reading

Textbooks are the primary reading materials required in this program. Occasionally students are also required to read articles from technical journals. In addition to these sources, on the job employees must read operator's and procedures manuals. In the program, textbooks are used as the central part of the course. Textbooks are generally written at the college reading level.

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Language

Speaking skills required of students in this program include oral interactions with fellow students and explaining procedures to them. In addition to these skills, on the job telephone skills and knowledge of scientific jargon are essential.

In the program, students use writing skills to take tests and to compose lab reports. On the job, employees write procedures manuals and record lab test results.

Required English courses: Composition (ENG 105) and Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SPC 101)

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Math

Math skills integrated in the program include: basic arithmetic skills such as calculating solution concentrations, medical conversions, interpreting graphs and statistical data. These same skills are required on the job.

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Learning

Both in the program and on the job, problem solving and recognizing sources of error and drawing conclusions for corrective action are required thinking skills.

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Computer

Knowledge of the use of software specific to the medical program and keyboarding skills are required both in the program and on the job.

View more information about computer skills in the Medical Laboratory Technician program.